Material-handling system



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,703,071

R. H. BEAUMONT MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEM Filed. 001:. 1926 12) 21% 25 115" I h I INVENTOR:

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' Patented 19.1929.

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Application m 0mm 2, 1920. 1 Serial No. 189,094.

This invention relates to material han-- dling systems, and, more partlcularlyto tails. v I systems forhandling coal-1n connection with In these illustrations 5 designates the main boiler house operation in power plants, for\bunker which 1s supplied from the out-field example. In modern equipment of the kind storage area by the drag scraper and skip referred to, the coal is reclaimed from an outbucket ashereinbefore explained, said bunker door field storage area by .means of adrag having a number of outlets 6 longitudinally scraper delivering to a pit from whence a skip bucket elevates the coal toa mam bunker of the boiler house. For the pur ose of distributing the coal to stoker hoppers and each such outlet is controlled by a pivote gate 7. This bunker 5 is located, as'shown,'at a level well above the stoker hoppers 88 associated with the individual boilers (not illustrated) of the power plant. Adapted to run upon rails 9, 9 extending along a floor 10 mmediately over the hoppers 8, is a larry comprehensively designated 11, the same comprising a suitable framework 12, herein shown as built from standard structural iron shapes, having wheels 13 engaging the rails 9 aforesaid. A suitable platform 14 isprovided on the larry 11 from whence various controls (not shown) .are accessible for convenience of the operative; As a means for propelling the larry 11, use is made of an electric motor conventionally represented at '15, the same driving of the wheels 13, through an interposed s stem of speed reduction gearing 17 and a sprocket chain 18, see Fig. I. By these provisions the larry 11 may be positioned, as desired, beneath an of the bunker outlets 6 to receive the coa and subsequently shifted for delivery of the charge to any of the stoker hoppers 8, all at the will and control of the operative. The coal hopper 20 on the larry 11 is supported in suspension by a system of interconnected leversv 21 which are coordinated with a scale beam mechanism generally indicated at 22 in Fig. II, said mechanism being protected in a casing 23,.see Fig. I. By this means, an accurate record may be kept' of the weight of coal delivered to the individual stoker hoppers 8 incidental customary to employ an intermediary transporting means inthe .form of a shuttle car known in the art as a larrythe same running on rails extending longitudinally beneath the bunker and above the series of stoker hoppers. In-addition to appurtenances for driving and actuating them, such larries are usually provided with a suspended hopper and co-ordinated scale mechanism for weighing the coal as it is received from the overhead bunker, so that an accurate re'cord may be kept as to the total consumption of the ower house as a whole, as well as with regard to the pro rata consumption of the boilers individually. f

In connection with handling'coal as briefly outlined above, it is my aim to enable separation of non-combustible refuse like tram iron from the coal without interfering wit the normal continuous operation characteristic of the system. This end I attain i continuously separating thetramp or refuse iron from the coal as it is received from the overhead bunker and before it is discharged into the weigh hopper. I

My invention is further directed toward disposal of the refuse accumuto time on the larry without lating from time ecial handling.

necessitating separate or s Other objects and atten ant advantages of my invention will be readily apparent from the detailed description of the typical embodiment of my invention depicted in the accompanying. drawings. Fig. I is a fragmentary illustration-partly in elevation and partly in sectionof a portion of a coal ha'nlocated directly over dling system conveniently showing the preshoppers 8. ent 1mprovements;.and, Having now iven a general outline of a Fig. II is an end elevation of the organitypical coal han ling system, I will next prozation viewed from the right of Fig. I, cerceed to describe the novel meansenabling attain parts being here also shown in section" tainment of the advantages pointed outinthe from the weigh hopper 20 is controlled by means of apivoted gate 24 adapted to be aligned with guarded openings 25 through the floor 10, such openings being respectively to better disclose important structural dethe axle 16 of one pair iuniwon, rnnnsrnvanm, assmiwoa r0 2.." n. nnanuon'r arranged in spaced relatiof along its bottom I to the operation of the plant. Discharge the centers of the stoker introductory-portion of. thisspecification.

"Mounted upon the frame 12 of the larry 11 is a superstructure 26 which provides a kind of an auxiliary bin or hopper 27 havlng vertical side walls 28, 28 and sloping front and rear walls 29, 30. This auxiliary hopper 27 is'spanned by a horizontal dlaphragm 31 mounted for vibratory movement between guide angles 32, 33 secured to the opposite side walls 28. The diaphragm 31 1s reciprocated by virtue of coordination with an eccentric 35 on a shaft 36 mounted in suitable'bearings supported by the larry frame 12, said shaft 36 being driven, by means of speed reduction gearing 37, from an electric motor 38 controllable by suitable means (not shown) from the platform 14 of the larry Underlying the outlet of the auxlliary hopper 27, is an endless belt 40 that is trained about pulleys 41, 42 extending crosswise of the larry frame 12, and driven by a sprocket chain connection 43 from the shaft 36 aforementioned. The pulley 41 has incorporated in it a suitable means 44 for maintaining an electromagnetic field thereabout capable of attracting iron refuse mixed with the coal, as the latter passes from the auxiliary hopper 27 en route to the weigh hopper 20. Located beneath the belt 40 is a receptacle 45 designed to receive the iron refuse, said receptacle having an inclined discharge spout 46 equipped at its lower terminal end with a pivoted gate 47. From time to time the refuse accumulation in the receptacle 45 may be released into a chute 48 conveniently located in the path traversed by the larry 11. This chute 48 may lead to any suitable point of disposal.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The lar 11 is first positioned to bring the auxiliary opper 27 beneath the desired outlet 6' of the bunker 5 from which the coal is to be taken. As a consequence of the continuous vibration of the diaphragm 31 under actuation by the eccentric 35, the coalis distributed in a shallow layer upon the belt 40, and in passing about the magnetic pulley 41, any refuse iron particles mixed with it are retained on said belt while the coal itself gravitates into the weigh hopper 20 as shown in Fig. I. After the lower run of the belt 40 is progressed beyond the. magnetic influence of the pulley 41, the refuse iron particles are in turn released to drop into the receptacle 45. After the weigh hopper 20 is filled, a record is taken of the weight of its contents through use of the scale mechanism 22, whereupon the larry 11 is shifted into position over the particular stoker hopper 8 into which the coal is to be discharged, the latter operation being effected by manual opening of the gate 24. 1

When the refuse receptacle 45 becomes filled, the larry 11 is shifted to bring the spout of the latter above the discharge chute 48, whereupon the gate 47 is opened to release the tramp iron.

While I have herein shown and described my invention as particularly advantageous to coal handling systems, it may obviously be employed with like advantages to those specifically pointed out, in other analogous instances where a transfer of material is efl'ected between a main bunker and a series of secondary hoppers as recited in certain of the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I.

claim:

1. A material handling system comprisin a main bunker having a number of individua outlets; a series of secondary hoppers; and a self-propelled, self-contained larry including separating, refuse-collector and weighing means; said larry being adapted to receive charges from the main bunker and to initially remove refuse iron therefrom before weighing the same in preparation for transportation and selective delivery to the secondary hoppers.

2. A coal handling system comprising a main bunker having a number of individual outlets; a series of secondar hoppers; and a self-propelled, self-contained larry including electro-magnetic separating, refusecollector and weighing-means; said larry being adapted to receive charges from the main bunker and to separate refuse iron therefrom concurrently with its reception in preparation for weighing, subsequent transportation, and selective delivery to the secondary hoppers.

3. A coal handling system comprising a main bunker having a number of individual outlets; a series of secondary hoppers; 3. larry including a weigh hopper, an auxiliary hopper by which the charges are initially received from the main bunker for deposit in the weigh hopper, a vibratory diaphragm in said auxiliary hopper, a belt running beneath the outlet of the auxiliary hopper to receive the spill from the diaphragm, said belt passing about a magnetic pulley to separate refuse iron from the coal en route to the weigh hopper and a dischargeable receptacle to receive suc refuse iron as it is released by movement of the belt beyond the magnetic influence of the pulley.

4. A coal handling system comprising a main bunker having a number of individual outlets; a series of secondary hoppers; a larry to receive charges from the main bunker for selective delivery to the secondary hoppers; electro-magnetic means on said larry for continuously separating refuse iron from the coal concurrently with its reception from the main bunker aforesaid, a receptacle with a controllable gravity discharge spout on the any to receive and temporarily store the refuse iron so separated, and a chute at a point in the path of travel of the larry to enable disposal of the collected refuse iron from time to 7 time.

5. A self-propelled and self-contained larry for use in coal handling systems embodying an independently actuable electro-rnagnetic separator for removing refuse iron from the 5 coal concurrent with its delivery thereto, a subjacent weigh hopper in the larry to receive the free coal, and an associated receptacle having a controllable gravity-discharge to receive the refuse iron as it is separated from the coal.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 27th day of September, 1926.

ROBERT H. BEAUMONT. 

